Doorlatch mechanism



Feb. 25, 1936. D. MILLER 2,031,664

DOORLATCH MECHAN I SM Filed Feb. 5, i954 Tfcll Z 17 Tit E E7 28.

Patented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT O FICE DOORLATCH MECHANISM lion- Miller, Detroit, Mioln, "assignor to Dura Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of, Ohio Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,145 '1 Claims. (01192-9161) This invention relates to door latches, particularly for refrigerator doors, and is concerned with the provision of a latch mechanism which is simple to operate, holds the door closed with an appreciable force, is simple and reliable in construction, can be manufactured on a production basis at a reasonable cost and has the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the latch mechanism viewed from above; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the latch mechanism shown in Figure l.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a refrigerator door latch having a casing provided with a face plate l0 provided with openings l I through which screws, or other securing devices, extend into the face or edge portion of the door, and secured thereto! is a rearwardly extending bolt guide l2 in which a furcated extension 3 of a latching head or nose I4 is slidable, the nose l4 projecting outside of the guide for engagement with a suitable keeper (not shown). Rigid with the rear end portion of the latch bolt guide I2 are substantially V-shaped yoke arms 4 5, which are connected by a cross bar l6 sub stantially adjacent the apex of the V-shaped arms.

I The opposite ends of thearms l5 are fixed as by welding to a plate l1, and interposed between the plate l1 and refrigerator door structure l8 are spacers l9, these parts together with the plate l1 being apertured to receive a flanged guide member 20 which has a screw threaded end portion to receive a nut2 l, which clamps a plate por- 6 tion 22 of the handle assembly against the opposite side of the refrigerator door structure I8 P for securing these parts in assembled relation.

Pivotally mounted on a bracket 23 is a depending handle 24, which is yieldingly held in normal position by a coil spring 25. As shown, the upper end portion of the handle 24 is provided with a nose 26, which abuts against the outer end of a pin 21 yieldingly mounted in the member 20 and having a button head 28 on its outer end.

. p'essure to insure escutcheon is apertured at 33 to receive the upper end of the handle 24.

Pivotally mounted on the latch bolt head l4 on a pin 34, is an arm 35 which extends between the furcation l3 and has a-longitudin'ally elongate slot 36' at its opposite end portion to receive a transverse pin 31, which is carried by a substantially U-shaped-arm 38 which is disposed at an obtuse angle to the arm 35, and the transverse portion 39 of the arm 38 abuts against the button head 28 'of the pin 21.

Loosely mounted on the arm 35 and abutting against the pin 31 is a washer 40 constituting an abutment for one end of a coil spring '4l,,which encircles the arm 35 and which bears at its opposite end againsta shoulder formed on the inner end of the arm 35. The coil spring 4| normally holds pin 31 against flanges or stops :43 fixed to the arms l5 of the casing. As shown in Figure 1, the flanges43 have a downwardly extending portion which is slightly curved and over which the pin 31 is adapted to. ride, as will hereinafter appear. When the pin 31 is in abutting relation to the flange portion 43, it will be seen that the bolt head I4 may be retracted against the full force of the spring 4|, the arm 35 riding over the pin 31 due to the slot 36. Preferably, the spring 4| is relatively strong to hold the latch nose I4 in latching position by relatively strong that the door of the refrigerator is held tightly latched.

Extending transversely of the arms IS in the inner end portion thereof is a pin 45, and the legs of the U-shaped arms 38 are provided with slots 46 to enable the member 38 to slide or move rectilinearly, thereby to move the pin 31 clear of the stop 43 and on to the downwardly extendin flange portion 44. l

By lifting movement of the handle 24 it is apparent that the pin 21 is moved or slid inwardly, the head 28 bearing against the transverse portion 39 of the arm 38, thereby to eifect sliding movement of the arm 38, but it will be noted that the head 28 engages the upper end portion of the transverse member 39, whereas the pin 45 and slots 46 are disposed in the lower portion of the arm 38. This enables the pin 21 to impart to the arm 38, after a predetermined sliding movement is. until the outer ends of the slots 46 have engaged the pin 45, to rock the arm 38, thereby to cause the pin 31 to travel downwardly along the flange 44 and retract the latch bolt I4. It should be noted thatin the retraction of the latch bolt M in this manner, the spring 4| is not compressed since the abutment washer 40 retains substantially its relative position with respect to the shoulder on arm 35.- It will thus be seen that although a relatively strong spring 4| holds the latch bolt l4 in latching position, the force of such spring does not have to be overcome in the retraction of the latch bolt when the same is retracted manually or by actuation of the door handle 24.

Encircling the pin 45 are coil springs 41, one end 4! of each spring abutting the transverse part 39 of the arm 38, and the other end 41 ofeach spring abutting plate portiohs 48 rigid with the casing arms 15. The springs 41 not only impart a retrograde movement to the U- shaped arm 38 to return the same to normal position, but also arrange to impart a lifting action to the inner end of the arm 38'to lift the same clear of the flanges 44. It is thus apparent that the springs 41 operate after the handle 24 is released to retract the actuating arm to normal position. ,v

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,. arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A door latch comprising movable abutment means, a latching member movable to and from latching position independently of motion of said abutment means, means for holding said abutment means normally against movement during such independent movement, means for positively retracting said latching member uponmovement of said abutmentmeans from normal position, said retracting means including an element having successive sliding and pivotal movements,

and a spring for said latching member movable with said abutment means and arranged to be compressed only upon said independent retracting movement of the latching member.

2. A door latch comprising movable abutmentv means, a latching member movable to and from latchingposition independently of motion of said abutment means, means for holding said abutment means normally against movement during such independent movement, means for positive- 1y retracting said latching member upon movement of said abutment means from normal position, said retracting means including a plate mounted for sliding movement for moving said abutment away from normal position and a pivotal mounting for said plate operative subsequent to the sliding movement for eflecting retraction of the latching member, and a spring for said latching member movable with said abut-- ment means and arranged to be compressed only upon said independent retracting movement of the latching member.

3. A door latch comprising movable abutment means, a latching member movable longitudinally to and from latching position independently of motion of said abutment means, means for normally holding said abutment means against moveing an element movable in a direction at approximately right angles to the longitudinal move ment of said latchingmember and having successive sliding and pivotal movements, and a spring for said latching member movable with said abutment means and arranged to be compressed only upon said independent retracting movement of the latching member.

4. A door latch comprising a latch bolt, spaced apart means for guiding said bolt, a link pivoted to the outer end of the latch bolt, a link disposed at substantially right angles to said first link and connected thereto, spring means urging said latch bolt to latching position, means enabling retraction of said latch bolt against the full force of said spring means independently of movement of said second link, and means enabling retraction of said bolt by said second link without compressing said spring means. d

5. A door latch comprising movable abutment means, a latching member movable longitudinally to and from latching position independently of motion oi. said abutment means, means for normsaid independent retracting movement of the latching member. 6. A door latch. comprising a latch bolt, a link connected to said,latch bolt, a second link disposed at an angle to said first link and connected thereto, a spring urging said latch bolt to latching position, means including an abutment for said spring and a stationery stop against which said abutment bears enabling retraction of said latch bolt against the full force of said spring independently of movement of said second link, and means for moving said second link to actuate said abutment away from said stop thereby to retract said latch bolt without compressing said spring. I

'I. A door latch comprising a latch bolt, av link connected to said latch bolt, a second link disposed at an angle to said first link, a pin'and slot connection between said links, an abutment memberbearing against said pin, a spring bearing against said abutment member at one end and said latch bolt at the opposite end, a stop for said pin enabling retraction of said latch bolt against the full force of said spring without moving said second link, and means for actuating said second link to move said pin over said stop" to enable retraction of said latch bolt without compressing said spring. 7 

